Heavy-Duty Outlets in Melbourne
High-current socket outlets — 15A, 20A and 32A connections for appliances, workshop equipment and high-power devices.
High-Current Outlets
Standard Australian outlets handle up to 10A (2400W). When you need more power, heavy-duty outlets are the solution:
- 15A outlets – larger pin spacing, used for some air conditioners and high-power appliances
- 20A outlets – colour-coded red, used for ducted heating, heat pumps and commercial kitchen equipment
- 32A outlets – colour-coded orange, used for electric vehicle chargers, large heat pumps and workshop machinery
Heavy-duty outlets use larger pins and different keyways to prevent plugging a standard plug into a high-current socket — this prevents overloading and fire risk.
When You Need Them
Heavy-duty outlets are required when your equipment draws more than 10A:
- Split system air conditioners – most 2.5kW–4.0kW units use a dedicated 10A or 15A circuit
- Ducted heating systems – gas ducted systems with electric boost use 15A–20A circuits
- EV chargers – home EV charging typically uses a 32A outlet on a dedicated circuit
- Workshop equipment – welders, table saws, band saws and heavy-duty power tools need dedicated high-current circuits
- Heat pumps – ducted heat pumps draw significant power and require 20A or 32A circuits
What to Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plug a standard plug into a heavy-duty outlet?
No — heavy-duty outlets have larger pins and different keyways. A standard 10A plug physically will not fit into a 15A, 20A or 32A outlet. This is a safety feature that prevents overloading.
Do heavy-duty outlets need a dedicated circuit?
Yes — every heavy-duty outlet must be on its own circuit from the switchboard. It cannot share a circuit with standard outlets or lighting.
How thick does the cable need to be?
Cable size depends on the current rating and the run length. A typical 15A circuit uses 2.5mm² cable, a 20A circuit uses 4mm², and a 32A circuit uses 6mm² or 10mm² for longer runs. We calculate the exact size during the quote.
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